State joins I-Day celebration CM calls for peaceful settlement of issues
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 16 2017: The State level celebration of 71st Independence Day was held on Tuesday at 1st Ba-ttalion Manipur Rifles ground with Chief Minister N Biren Singh as the chief guest .

The Chief Minister hois-ted the National tricolour amidst playing of National anthem by various band contingents .

Speaking at the occasion, N Biren observed that people need to march forward together with an objective to achieve progress and development of the State by for- getting all the differences and past mistakes .

He urged all concerned to resolve all contentious issues through talks even if they have any dissatisfaction with the initiatives being taken up by the present Government .

Celebration of the country's Independence Day and paying homage to the martyrs and freedom fighters, who gifted freedom to the current generation, would be meaningful and bear fruit only when people concentrate on accomplishing their tasks and objectives with a strong sense of patriotism by forgetting all the differences .

State joins I-Day celebration CM calls for peaceful settlement of issues

He also appealed to the public to put in collective efforts to make Manipur a peaceful and vibrant State having egalitarian development .

Though Manipur had also achieved many milestones of development being a part of the vast and strong India in the past 70 years, the State still needs to work hard to enhance the State's economy and improve connectivity, commu- nication and conditions of children and women etc .

Mentioning the achievements of the newly formed BJP-led coalition Government, the Chief Minister said that the Government had successfully resolved UNC's economic blockade and the stir of JAC Against Anti-Tribal Bills within a short period of time .

He also said that the Government has a firm commit- ment to bring uniform development in all parts of the State to regain emotional integrity between hill and valley dwellers .

Admitting that the current financial health of the State is not that good, the Chief Minister informed the gathering that the State Government had started taking up necessary measures to maintain financial prudence and improve resource mobilisation .

Effective implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an important step towards this end, he added .

Earlier, the Chief Minister took salute from 43 march-past contingents of BSF, CRPF, Assam Police, civil police, India Reserve Battalion, Manipur Fire Service, Home Guards and VDF personnel, NCC Cadets, Government Department employees and college and school students .

Commandant of 3rd India Reserve Battalion, Thokchom Vikramjit Singh, MPS was the parade commander .

Eleven band platoons of different security forces, Home Guards and Sainik School also took part in the march past .

Chief Minister N Biren later decorated two police officers with President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and presented Police Medal for Meritorious Service to 20 personnel .

Recipients of the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service were A Ghanashyam Sharma, MPS (Dy SP of Imphal West) and Jemadar Bisham Dev Thakur of MPTC, Pangei .

The recipients of Police Medal for Meritorious Service were H Gyaneshwar, MPS (Dy CO of 7th MR), Inspector T Sanatomba Singh (CID SB), Inspector Kh Shashi Kumar Singh (CID SB), Inspector O Jibonchandra Singh (CID Security), Inspector Palmei Shantikumar Kabui (CID Security), Inspector AS Masongam Shimray (Senapati), Subedar TS Chamna Anal (8th Bn Manipur Rifles), Inspector Th Nilamani Singh (Noney district), Sub-Inspector S Guni Singh (CID SB), Sub-Inspector Kh Debananda (CID SB), Jemadar Th Bharatchandra Singh (1st IRB), Assistant Sub-Inspector N Dilip Singh (CID SB), Assistant Sub-Inspector O Achoubi Devi (CID SB), Havildar Y Manglemjao Singh (MPTC), Havildar Lunkhosei Haokip (2nd MR), Havildar RK Sarat (2nd MR), Havildar Md Rahimuddin (2nd MR), Head Constable L Khamba Singh (Imphal West), Rifleman Mangjathang Haokip (MPTC) and Rifleman Kh Babudhon (MPTC) .

The Chief Minister also presented Police Trophy for Community Service and Police Trophy for Anti-Drug Campaign for the first time from this year at the function .

The award included a trophy, a cash reward of Rs 20,000 and a Chief Minister's Commendation Certificate .

The recipients of Police Trophy for Community Service were K Meghachandra Singh, MPS (SP Thoubal), Inspector Yaikhom Shanta Singh (Imphal East District) and Constable Okram Yaipharenba Meetei (Kakching district) .

The Police Trophy for Anti-Drug Campaign was presented to Kabib K, IPS (Imphal East SP), Sub-Inspector H Koyaingam Maring (Narcotics and Affairs of Border) and Havildar Md Islamuddin (2nd Battalion Manipur Rifles attached to Bishnupur District) .

The Chief Minister also handed over the State Level Swachhata Award, 2017 on Cleanliness and Sanitation at the occasion .

Churachandpur, Imphal West and Thoubal districts were adjudged first, second and third positions in the competition respectively .

Certificate of honour and cash award of Rs 10,000 was also awarded to Wangkheimayum Shanta Singh of Shamurou Bazar for his innovative works of manufacturing various reeling and spinning machines.

The award also included a medium term loan of Rs 5 lakh .

Ministers, MLAs, top civil, police and military officers, Government employees and general public also took part in the celebration.